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Turkish President Visits Site of Bombing; Security Stepped up As Israeli-Palestinian Violence Continues; The Art of the Soviet Union; Turkey Begins Investigation into Ankara Bombing. Aired 11:00a-12:00p ET

Aired October 14, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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[11:00:16] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: On edge, security has stepped up across Israel and the Palestinian territories, but the violence continues.

This hour, we are live for you in Jerusalem with the very latest on a series of lone wolf attacks.

Also ahead, paying his respects: Turkish President Erdogan visits the site of the deadliest terror attack in the country's recent history. We'll

ask the Turkish presidency spokesperson what the attack means for the country's foreign and domestic policies.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: A very good evening at just after 7:00 here in the UAE. We begin tonight with one of the biggest security crackdowns in Jerusalem in

years. Israeli forces are setting up checkpoints in the eastern part of the city, restricting access to Palestinian neighborhoods after a wave of

attacks. It's part of new measures intended to stop weeks of violence from spiraling into a full-scale uprising.

Critics call it collective punishment in violation of international law.

Israel is also deploying hundreds of soldiers to back up police across the country.

Well, despite all the extra security, we've just learned that a short time ago there was another attempted attack.

Let's bring in Erin McLaughlin for details. She is in the Jerusalem bureau tonight.

What is the latest on what we know there?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky.

Well, we are just getting new information from Israeli police. According to police, the attacker, the attempted stabber, was killed, but a

local as well as a tourist were wounded.

Now the incident began, Israeli police say, when they noticed a suspicious looking man dressed in combat fatigues near the Damascus gate

entrance of the old city. They approached him. And when they did, they said they were keeping their distance because there had been attacks in

that area in the past week. And when they asked him to produce his ID, that is when they say he pulled out a knife, lunging at them, attempting to

stab them.

They say they then opened fire on the assailants. And he turned a ran away.

And it was at that point that they say that in another group of Israeli police heard what was going on and responded. And so, the initial

group of police stopped firing and the other group of police approached firing, killing the assailant, but we're now hearing from police officers

that a local and a tourist were also shot and wounded receiving medical treatment.

It is the fourth stabbing incident in the Damascus Gate area of the old city in the past week, the latest of a wave of violence that yesterday

claimed three Israeli civilian lives, a series of what authorities are calling lone wolf style attacks, very difficult to predict, very difficult

to prevent. And these attacks now continuing in the face of all of this heightened security as well -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Right. And the images on your screen, viewers, a knife allegedly used in that attack.

Erin, there is a lot of fear on both sides, and understandably so. What's fueling these attacks?

MCLAUGHLIN: That very much depends on who you ask, Becky. Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders are blaming each other for inciting this

violence.

Now, high level government officials held a briefing today with foreign journalists. And they pointed to a series of what they say are

highly produced social media videos that they say -- they allege -- were created by Fatah as well as Hamas as well as other organization. And they

are saying that those videos are being watched online by Palestinians, Palestinian youth who then in turn are creating their own videos and are

inspired then to carry out this kind of lone wolf style attack.

Now Palestinian officials, for their part, are pointing to the situation surrounding the holy site known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary

and to Jews as the Temple Mount. They are saying that Israeli restrictions placed on that site -- age restrictions in terms of access, visits from

Israeli officials, far right extremists, to the site are what's fueling this violence. And they say that Israeli -- that Palestinian leaders are

saying that they are purposefully doing that in order to create a cover to be able to exert more control on the site, Becky.

[11:05:03] ANDERSON: Erin McLaughlin is in Jerusalem for you this evening. Thank you.

Well, a complex battle appears to be taking shape in northern Syria outside Aleppo.

Reuters reports that ISIS militants are fighting rival rebel groups for control of two towns, while nearby the Syrian army is preparing its own

assaults backed by Iranian forces and Russian air power.

Now this is just the latest, as you know, in what is this expanding proxy war playing out across the country.

I've got some new video to show you, which is said to show Russian fighters hitting targets on the outskirts of Aleppo.

Now the Russian defense ministry says its war planes hit 40 ISIS positions in Syria over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Russia's foreign ministry says the U.S. has turned down new talks on the Syria crisis. Here's part of what Sergey Lavrov told the

Russian parliament earlier on today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Unfortunately, the U.S. -- American colleagues continue their line of

leadership on the international stage -- basically they, if I can say, to clear the global field to achieve their own goal and standards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, for his part, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is quoted by one of the agencies, Agence France Presse as saying that another

round of what he calls deconfliction talks is in the works. Not really sure what deconfliction means.

But anyway, let's get more perspective in all of these developments. CNN's Matthew Chance is with us once again tonight from Moscow.

Matt, conflicting information on whether Russia and the U.S. are talking behind the scenes. Meantime, Russian intervention continues.

Is it any clearer how long this phase of Russian involvement will continue and/or what happens after that?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of the talks that are being had behind the scenes between the United States

and Russia, I mean, there are two different sort of strands of diplomacy, if you like, that are taking place.

The first one is the military to military talks to make sure that they deconflict -- that word basically means to make sure these two powerful air

forces do not shoot each other out of the skies over Syria, to make sure they've got some sort of method in place to recognize each other and not to

go into some kind of unwanted confrontation with each other's war planes.

That is definitely happening. There's a third round of talks that's expected to take place as Ash Carter was mentioned, the U.S. Secretary of

Defense, some time very shortly indeed. And both sides are interested in making that happen. And so there's little question they're going to go

ahead.

The second track of diplomacy, though, is about a broader cooperation between Washington and Moscow over the campaign in Syria. They're both

running different airstrike campaigns, of course. U.S. is leading a coalition of 60 countries striking at ISIS targets. Russia is carrying out

its own airstrikes against ISIS, but also against other anti-Assad groups in Syria as well.

And, at the moment, you heard that from the Russian foreign minister, there's no interest at all from the American side in getting together and

staging a closer cooperation between the two sides.

Basically, the Americans think that the Russian campaign is strategically wrongheaded and is the wrong step forward. So they're having

nothing to do with it, Becky.

ANDERSON: Matthew, diplomats calling the Moscow alliance P4+1 to which they'll attribute Putin -- Russia -- Iran, Syria and Iraq, plus

Hezbollah militia. What is the Russia plan here? And just how involved is Iran and Iraq in its plans?

CHANCE: It's a good question. And the roles of these various factions, these various countries, are only starting to become clear.

But, I mean, I think the Kremlin has been pretty straightforward in this almost from the outset. I mean, it's fudged it a bit in terms of what

it's carrying airstrikes out against, but it's really made no bones about the fact that it is striking rebels who are opposed to its long-time ally

in Syria, Bashar al-Assad. The objective is clearly the two bolster Assad's position so that it will bolster Russia's position. Russia has

lots of military and economic interests, of course, in Syria. And it sees President Assad as the guarantor of those interests.

Russia is providing the air force role in that coalition whereas the Iranians, the Syrian army -- you know, what's left of that demoralized

force -- and Hezbollah militia as well, are providing the ground troops in that operation.

And to some extent, although you'd have to go to reports on the ground for more detail on this, but to some extent it appears to be having an

effect. It's not just airstrikes alone, it's airstrikes coupled with a counter offensive by those ground forces.

Again, the objective being at the first instance to bolster the Syrian regime, to make sure it doesn't lose any further territory, to make sure it

doesn't collapse, but after that, I mean, that's the big open question. Is it going to question try and push forward and take back the 80 percent of

Syria that Bashar al-Assad has lost over the past four years. That would be ambitious, but no one is ruling it out at this point.

[11:10:40] ANDERSON: Fascinating.

Matthew, always a pleasure. Thank you.

Matthew Chance is in Moscow with the very latest and analysis on what is going on in Syria.

Still to come tonight, we delve deeper into the latest outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence. I'm going to be joined by a veteran

negotiator respected by both sides.

Plus, Turkey's government is facing mounting criticism after the country's biggest ever terrorist attack. We're going to speak to a key

member of President Erdogan's inner circle on what is happening and what will happen next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're with CNN and connect the world with me Becky Anderson. It is just about a quarter past 7:00 here in the UAE.

Now, Israeli police say they have thwarted an attempted attack in Jerusalem. They say an assailant tried to stab border police at a gate to

the old city, but was shot dead.

Police posted a photo of a knife that they say was used in the attempted attack. And that is shown here.

Jerusalem is, as you know now, on high alert amid new security measures meant to stop a wave of attacks against Israeli citizens. Police

manning road blocks and restricting access to Palestinian neighborhoods, a move critics of the Israeli government call collective punishment.

Well, new violence in the West Bank today as well. Clashes erupted after the funeral of a Palestinian protester killed by Israeli forces.

Medics say nearly 100 Palestinians have been injured.

Well, for some perspective now on what is going on, we're joined by Gershon Baskin who is a veteran negotiator who has been an adviser to both

Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the Middle East peace process. He's chairman of the Israel-Palestine creative regional initiatives.

And, sir, you must be incredibly disappointed and disturbed at what we are seeing. Attacks, counterattacks, fear on both sides. Things are

spiraling. Israel promising increased security measures, and its critics calling it collective punishment in violation of international law.

Sir, what is going on?

GERSHON BASKIN, UNOFFICIAL ISRAELI NEGOTIATOR: Well, it's really difficult to know what's going on, to figure out why it began now and why

we're in another round of violence, which is different of every other round of violence we've had until now, because there's no real organization

behind it. It's individuals, youngsters, young people taking knives and going and trying to kill Israelis, and Israel responding with the firepower

that they have.

The centerpiece of the Palestinian anger, or what they're saying is the reason behind this is the al Aqsa compound, the mosque in the old city,

what the Israelis call the Temple Mount and a claim that Israel is making plans either to divide the mosque to allow Jewish prayer there, to change

the -- what's called the status quo on the al Aqsa Temple Mount compound.

Israel, of course, denies this. But there is such a high level of mistrust between the Israelis and the Palestinians after 22 years of peace

negotiations failures, that no one believes no one here. This is why we're seeing in each of these a violent situations two completely different

narratives of what's actually happening on the ground. And the anger is just increasing and the mistrust between the parties is on the rise.

ANDERSON: All right.

Well, we're going to talk about what we think could conceivably happen next. And I'm afraid the spiraling suggest things might only get worse.

But the prospect for peace between Israelis and Palestinians appears even more elusive now than ever. Decades, as you rightly point out, of talks

have failed and diplomats from the Mideast quartet just called off a planned visit to the region.

We do know, though, that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is not giving up. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Over the weekend, I was in touch with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. And we're working on

trying to calm things down. And I will go there soon at some point appropriately and try to work to reengage and see if we can't move that

away from this precipice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: We are working to calm this down, says John Kerry.

Is there any real hope that peace talks can be restarted in this environment?

BASKIN: Not at this time. And I don't think what we need now is another U.S. negotiations initiative between the Israelis and the

Palestinians.

What could be useful is if the parties themselves -- and here I'm talking about King Abdullah of Jordan, President Abbas of the Palestinian

Authority and Prime Minister Netanyahu were able to come -- some kind of common statement saying that the status quo in al Aqsa on the Temple Mount

will be maintained and preserved. And that would require some kind of international monitoring mechanism to verify that in fact no changes are

going on.

If that were to happen, that would be a step toward calming the situation down. There would be a need for additional measures, such as an

Israeli guarantee that their police forces would not enter the compound if the Palestinian forces on top the walk -- officials are doing their job in

preventing stone throwing from the al Aqsa compound the Temple Mount, down to the western wall where Israeli Jews pray.

ANDERSON: Just how difficult will it be, or is it to achieve peace when Palestinians themselves are so divided? Hamas encouraging this recent

round of violence, it seems, while the Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas has appealed for calm.

And do you think we are spiraling towards a third intifada, or is that too easy to suggest at this point?

BASKIN: Well, I think that the situation can be brought to a calm again. I don't think that the Israelis or the Palestinians want another

round of violence, or prepared for another round of violence.

Hamas in Gaza is trying to instigate and incite for violence in the West Bank and in Jerusalem, but not in Gaza, because they don't want to

face another Gaza war like they did 14 months ago.

There are players, radicals who would like to see this situation get more extreme. We can't have peace unless there are negotiations between

the Israelis and the Palestinians. Those are not going to take place unless there are clear terms of reference for a new round of negotiations

with the timetable, open-ended negotiations like we had in the past are not going to take place again, so we're going to have a continued period of

stagnation.

The Palestinian house is divided, but if there was a real peace proposal on the table, if the Israeli side was talking about ending the

occupation and creating a Palestinian state on reasonable borders with Jerusalem as a shared capital, the Palestinian people would rally around an

initiative that would grant them freedom and liberation and an end to the occupation. But that doesn't seem to be on the agenda of the current

Israeli government.

[11:20:50] ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave it there. I've got to take a very short break, but we do very much appreciate your

analysis this evening out of Jerusalem for us.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, Russia continues airstrikes in Syria, but who is aiming for a solution in the

region engulfed in conflict. We're going to try and break that down a little bit for you ahead.

First up, though, motherhood is big business in Kenya. One startup selling maternity products quite frankly taking off. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the baby, (inaudible) pregnancy and baby fair in Nairobi, Kenya. Up to 50 exhibitors come here to sell their

product and services. And it all started with a dream.

UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: I've got a dream. And in this dream, I saw this event. There's women. And I had a big sense of conviction that this

is what should do.

Just so that we are aligned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In 2006, Carol Dege (ph) turned her vision into reality and founded Beauty Babe (ph). The business makes maternity

products and hosts this annual affair.

[11:25:10] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our flagship product is a breastfeeding pillow, very popular. Breastfeeding may have a few

challenges that come with it. You must be able to position your baby well, ensure that they latch well on your breast. This product helps a lot with

that process, yeah, because just by wearing it they're able to actually raise the baby so that the baby is a little closer.

When we first did this event, on a good month I would move between five to 10 pillows. Seven years later, an average between 200 and 250

pillows. So there has been tremendous growth over that period of time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Besides that pillows, Dege (ph) sells a number of other products, including diaper bags and sheets. She says she sells

around 500 items per month, with prices reaching up to $45.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We sell our products in all the main line supermarkets in the country. We also supply a few hospitals. We also sell

through our website.

For the mommy who is looking for convenience and actually get the delivery done at no additional cost.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dege (ph) initially made the merchandise herself in her home. Today, she has eight employees and a workshop. She worries

about piracy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have tried as much as possible to protect our intellectual property and that obviously does not stop unscrupulous

business people from taking what we rightfully develop and making counterfeits of the very thing.

But if we notice it, then we go -- we go about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is looking to expand and runs a website, Baby Banders Motherhood 101 (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that web platform is really for the first time mother, or any mother who is looking for good information.

We've got a lot of articles on breastfeeding. And we also have a Q&A platform where they can go and get credible answers to their questions,

because we have partnered with credible professionals.

I love what I do. I think my work has exposed me to different things. One, the ability to create, the ability to innovate. That's why I like

what I do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:31:01] ANDERSON: Welcome back, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Just looking at the top stories for you this hour.

And Russia's defense ministry says a new round of airstrikes in Syria hit at least 40 ISIS targets.

Earlier, the foreign minister Sergey Lavrov addressed that campaign before parliament claiming that Washington has rebuffed Russian advances

for deeper cooperation. The U.S. says only a fraction of Russian airstrikes target ISIS militants.

Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers is now law in Iran. The 12 member guardian council has approved the bill allowing the Iranian

government to implement the deal reach in July. Now the parliament passed it Tuesday. The bill calls for restrictions on the country's nuclear

program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Jerusalem is on high alert amid new security measures meant to stop a wave of attacks against Israeli citizens . Israeli forces are setting up

check point and restricting access to Palestinian neighborhoods. Israel is also deploying hundreds of soldiers across the country, but despite the

heightened security, police report another attempted attack today in Jerusalem.

Ben Wedeman joining us with the details.

And as we look at live pictures once again, Ben, of disturbances, we are seeing much talk on social media of a third intifada. Yet, the

Palestinian Authority at least calling for calm.

You spent years covering the conflict. Does what you are seeing and reporting on worry you on (inaudible) at this point?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me explain to you. Actually, we've received a new version of events from the Israeli

police for this incident today.

Originally, the story was that this attacker who apparently is a 20-year- old resident of Hebron in the southern West Bank tried to stab a private security guard who was escorting a family of tourists into the old city.

Now we're being told by the police that what happened was this young man was sitting in this area below me. He appeared to be suspicious to a

group of border police. When they approached him and tried to ascertain exactly what he was up to, according to the Israeli police, he lunched at

them with a knife. They shot him. Then another group of border police arrived. Somebody shouted he is a terrorist and they shot him multiple

times. In the process -- in the process of all of this gunfire, apparently one tourist was lightly wounded by gunfire. That tourist was treated on

the scene and a local resident was wounded.

So, this is the first incident of the day after of course yesterday when there were five separate attacks in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel

that left three Israelis dead and many more wounded.

And every day when you begin the day here, you hope that it will be a quiet day. And it looked like it was shaping up to be exactly that until

this incident happened. And of course, security is ramped up to levels in Jerusalem that I haven't seen since the darkest days of the second intifada

when there was wave after wave of suicide bombings in this city.

So, the anticipation is that there may well be more similar tactic, despite the measures taken by the Israeli government to try to prevent

further attacks.

But at the end of the day it's very difficult when you're dealing with what appears to be until now lone wolf attacks, people with no affiliation

with any militant group simply acting on their own -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman reporting. And I just have to point out that as Ben was talking there, we were running two sets of pictures for you,

giving a sense of the enormity of what's going on there. Some of those pictures coming out of Jerusalem, as Ben eluded to, the attack earlier on.

And those live pictures coming out of Bethlehem as we speak this evening, giving you a real sense of activity there across the country.

Right.

Turkey is reeling from its deadliest ever terror attack. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the site of Saturday's deadly blast in Ankara,

which killed 97 people.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the prime minister says it's likely ISIS or Kurdish militants were involved.

Well, joining me now from the Turkish capital is Ibrahim Kalin who is the spokesman for the Turkish presidency.

And, sir, the prime minister saying that the PKK may have been involved as well as ISIS on Saturday. With neither group claiming

responsibility, critics might say the move -- or this suggestion is politically motivated.

What evidence do you have to make or support these allegations?

[11:36:07] IBRAHIM KALIN, TURKISH PRESIDENT SPOKESMAN: Well, first of all as you pointed out, this is the largest terrorist attack on our soil.

It's a national tragedy and we're all mourning it. So, I express my condolences again.

There is an ongoing investigation right now. We will have more answers as the investigation deepens.

We are not ruling out any possibilities at this moment. It could be ISIS related terrorist attack, PKK operatives and terrorists can be

implicated or other terrorist organizations.

A number of measures have already been taken. The president has ordered a state investigation into the terror attack. We will find out

more, but as you know Turkey has -- is fighting against PKK terrorism on the one hand, but is also fighting against ISIS on the other hand. So it

could be both ways, but we will have to see the results of the investigation.

ANDERSON: I know that you have just come out of a security briefing. What was the headline?

KALIN: Well, again, we are looking into these possible clues. There is a number of, you know, evidence collected at the moment. We are looking

at the DNA samples. We are looking at the cameras, et cetera.

We will have a full pictures very soon, but let me point out an important fact here is that Turkey has been part of the anti-ISIL

international coalition fighting against ISIL in Syria, Iraq. We've opened our air bases and we are conducting joint operations with Americans against

ISIL targets. And ISIL has identified Turkey as a possible target, so that' one possibility.

But on the other hand we have also the PKK terrorism that has killed dozens of people, security as well as civilian people, over the last three

months. And it could be PKK also.

But, I want to underline one important fact here, a claim that has been made by some people that somehow the government is behind this attack

or somehow has allowed this to happen is as ridiculous as the claim that the U.S. government was behind 9/11 attacks. It's a conspiracy theory.

Normally people will laugh at something like this, but unfortunately we see some figures, some political commentary making this very ridiculous claims

about this.

But we will have to see, as I said, until the investigation is completed. But we are taking the necessary measures at this point to deal

with this terrorist threat.

ANDERSON: Ibrahim, I want to show you and our viewers what the HDP leaders, one of the opposition parties, told CNN about the attack. This

was on CNN. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SELAHATTIN DEMIRTAS, LEADER, PEOPLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (HDP) through translator): We are saying that ISIS cannot carry out these kinds of

attacks, actions, without the support of the state in Turkey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Ankara is a place where security is very high on the agenda, yet this attack did happen right in the center of the city. You

were eluding to what the leader of the HDP just said as a conspiracy theory.

Why wasn't such a large gathering secured?

KALIN: Well, it happened in the middle of Ankara with a large crowd. We are now looking into any security lapses that may have caused this. You

know, we -- as I said, President Erdogan has ordered a state investigation. There is an administrative and judicial investigation into this. We're be

looking at the security aspect of it, the intelligence aspect of it, the prime minister has convened his security team to look into this.

As I said, anything we say at this point before we gather enough evidence will be only speculation. It will lead to that kind of very

ridiculous, irresponsible political commentary and accusation.

I think it's important that we reject this kind of political manipulation at a time of national mourning.

ANDERSON: Turkey has previously spoken about its zero problems approach to its neighbors, but we are talking about neighbors like Iraq and

Syria. And let me remind you of what President Erdogan told me when we met last month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:40:11] RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): I always talked about this with our friends, there are things

Russia should do. There are things Iran should do. They are all countries that are supporting them.

And I say this openly here, because I tell them as well, I must say it because I am in pain. They are giving them armed support, financial

support, and they are allowing this administration to continue. And they are trying to get rid of the opposition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, since then, Russia has intervened significantly in Syria in support of the Assad regime. The approach that Turkey and Mr.

Erdogan when we discussed it had been taking seems to have failed. Russia and Iran both increasing their support for the regime.

What is Turkey's next move when it comes to Syria?

KALIN: Well, as we told both Russians and Iranians together with our allies Americans, that the recent Russian military buildup in Syria appears

to be designed not to fight ISIL, as the Russian's claim, but to save the Assad regime. And that's a big mistake.

This kind of Russian involvement, and Iranian, actually, involvement in the war will make the situation on the ground worse, not any better. The

Irony is that Russia claims that they are against any kind of external military intervention, but this is exactly what they are doing. And, you

know, it claims that it is targeting ISIL targets, but we know that they have been bombing moderate Syrian opposition groups, which have been with

it and support it by the international community.

And of course, there's another problem here besides the military, the humanitarian cost. The military action that they are taking right now in

and around Aleppo may, in fact, lead to another wave of refugees coming our way, Turkey, and from Turkey to Europe. And we've been dealing with the

refugee crisis, as you know, over the last couple of years. Now Europe has woken up to this terrible fact.

We already host about 2.5 million refugees from Syria in Iraq. We don't want to see more refugees coming our way, because they will be

fleeing a war, a brutal war, and all these attempts to save the criminal Assad regime, you know, will lead to more strife, more killing, and more

humanitarian disaster and tragedy.

So, we are advising the Russians and others, you know, to focus on ISIL targets, but not to get involved in other kind of military

intervention, which will make the situation much worse than it already is.

ANDERSON: All right.

Ibrahim, we're going to have to leave it there. I've got to take a break. We haven't quite discussed what Turkey's next move is, but I'd

appreciate it if you'd join us again on Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. We can discuss this further incredibly important times here in

the region.

For the time being, thank you.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World.

Coming up, bombed out buildings, abandoned streets, families sites across parts of the Middle East as conflict engulfs this region. So is

there a solution on the horizon. Well, we're going to cross to Beirut to one of our senior correspondents to discuss that. Up next.

And the Soviet Union may conjure up many thoughts -- and it certainly does at this time when it's making headlines -- but is art one of them? We

take a look at the new exhibition showcasing works from one of history's most iconic empires.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:46:51] ANDERSON: Let's get you back to one of our top stories not just tonight, but a story that is ongoing and has been for four years now.

The expanding war in Syria. We've been following the relentless violence there ever since that civil war started. It's just one of many bloody

conflicts, I'm afraid, engulfing the entire region from Gaza to Yemen as you see here on this map in Israel. There are fresh spasms of violence, as

we've been discussing this hour, and a conflict that seems to have no end.

And to the south, in Yemen, the civil war rages on pitting pro- government forces and a Saudi-led coalition against rebels backed by Iran.

Well, joining me now to talk about these hotspots across the region is CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joining us live

from Beirut.

It's been interesting, Nick, for years when you ask people here in this region about what it is that sows the seeds of discontent they will

say the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And yet as we watch that roil again, it seems that diplomats, those who could make a difference as it were

around the world from those speaking at the UNGA to elsewhere seem to be sort of ignoring that story. Is it because it no longer sows those seeds,

do you think?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think when that was previously considered to be the one kind of lightning rod where I

think in 2002 many believed if you solved that, yes, suddenly the rest of the Middle East will fall into place.

Now we have this unfolding Sunni-Shia violence across the region, which while a mind is paid still to the conflict in Israel and Palestine,

no, there are far greater issues afoot now. And I think it's remarkable to see the paucity of ideas as you could possibly slow down the conflagration

of violence here.

I mean, lest night listening to the Democratic presidential candidate debate, one key notion in for Syria for example was a no-fly zone that

might potentially be used as leverage to get the Russians to come to the table to get a diplomatic process to perhaps get the peace negotiated.

And it's not clear really who you negotiate that peace between, which rebels would sign on to it, whether the Assad regime would accept any

lessening of Bashar al-Assad's presence in the government, a key tenant of western demands.

It's so interesting to listen, too, to the Turkish government spokesperson you had on just there, really, at how a myriad of different

sides here, different factions make almost a simple to understand narrative impossible for people to really grasp here.

They know the Turkish are fighting the Kurds, but they're also saying they're fighting ISIS, but doing it less than they're fighting the Kurds.

Yet, they are in fact an ally of the United States who are on the same side of the Kurds, but also fighting ISIS.

I mean, I could go on to explain the 10 different nations here. They all have slightly differing vantage points in terms of what they want to

get from the conflict here, but none of it leads to a simple direction that could slow the violence down, Becky.

ANDERSON: Well, let's pick apart possible solutions, or possible events that might slow this conflict down, if not actually cease this

conflict.

Where do we start? I mean, so many stakeholders. Where do you want to start? Let's start, for example, with the idea of a no-fly zone over an

area that might become a humanitarian corridor. That would never fly, for example, with Assad, would it? That would be an infringement of his

sovereign space. And clearly, the Russians would support him to defend themselves against that.

So, that's a no brainer, right?

WALSH; Well, I mean, it first came around in 2013, around the idea of chemical weapons when the Pentagon put it out and said that we can declare

a part of northern Syria a no-go for Syrian regime air forces, that would protect civilians there from bombardment and punish the Assad regime, but

it kind of came apart when Martin Dempsey, the chief of staff, then, said well you'd have to take out much of Syria's air defense to instill a no-fly

zone like that.

Now, fast forward two years later, well U.S. jets are in the skies attacking ISIS over part of Syria, but they're not always over parts of

Aleppo closer towards regime-held territory. But now the Russians are.

So, even if you did say, right, this line parallel across Syria is a no-go zone for anyone apart from coalition, western friendly aircraft, well

that's still going to be telling the Russians that's part of Syria that you're flying in now that you can no longer fly in.

So, yes, you're basically saying telling the Russians to get out of parts of Syria. That's simply not going to fly now as well.

And then you have to look at the impact that would have on the ground.

Right now, there isn't really a particularly prevalent moderate Syrian rebel force that would immediately capitalize and create this safe zone the

Turkish wanted and the hope that millions of refugees would flood back in. You run the risk, in fact, of the beneficiaries being al Qaeda friendly

rebel groups on the ground who are militarily prevalent.

So, beyond complicated in terms of unintended consequences, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Nick has written extensively on this. And you can find his work at CNN.com/ Please do use that site.

Live from Abu Dhabi, thank you, Nick. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.

Coming up, we'll take a peak behind the Iron Curtain to find art much of the world knew very little about. That's just ahead. Stay with us.

Short break. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:55:27] ANDERSON: Right. Your Parting Shots this evening. One man making it his aim to showcase the culture behind the Iron Curtain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The Soviet Union was a large empire that influenced at least half of the world. But because of the Iron

Curtain, Soviet art wasn't widely known elsewhere.

The empire is gone, but the culture, the art and the science are still in demand across the world.

I've started to collect these pieces in order to introduce those great artists to people everywhere.

The current exhibition is called war and peace. It presents the pain and suffering of war captured by the artists as well as the happiness life

and love of peace time.

Those very same questions of war and peace are still very important today. It's also important to remember the experiences of the Soviet

Union. We lost 26 million people during the Second World War. Remembering that experience and the lessons of that conflict is important to help

prevent something like the pain of fascism ever happening again.

My name is Andrei Vilvakov (ph). These were my Parting Shots.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. Thank you for watching.

END